The Ritz Acoustic Club is ten years old this month.
After an acoustic concert,open mic night in Highbridge on the First of May 1999, organised by CADS (Burnham and Highbridge Cultural Arts Society), at which local players such as Dave Neville, Pete Beech and Jim Topping gave their best, it was thought it would be a good idea to have an open mike night every week, where anyone could come along and play. So the ‘Home Brue Folk Club’ (as it was originally named) had their first night the following Friday night on 7th May 1999 and started in the skittle alley of the Crown pub in Burnham, at which 12 people attended. The events were organised by Dave Neville with help from other locals such as Pete Beech, Nigel Snook, Dave Chave and Jim Topping. As its popularity grew it soon became necessary to find a larger venue.
A few short months later the club moved to the Jubilee room in the Ritz Social Club and became a weekly event. At this time it might be worth mentioning that the club had £4.50 in the kitty, and most, if not all the equipment was either owned by Dave Neville, or begged and borrowed. The club later changed its name to ‘The Ritz Acoustic Club’ after moving to its current venue at the Ritz Social Club.
A celebratory evening was held on Thursday 21st May, with many old friends attending and performing.